WATERSHED, SOIL, AND AIR PROJECT PROPOSAL USDA Forest Service, Technology & Development Program 09-25
Project Name or Title:	Web Cam Systems
Submitted by (your name):	Trent Procter
Unit name and address:	Region 5 – Air Program
Telephone:	559-784-1500
IBM or Internet Address:	tprocter@fs.fed.us
Date:	February 28, 2008
OVERALL OBJECTIVES/PROBLEM STATEMENT (Describe the problem, how the work is currently being done, and why improvement is needed.)
Web cam systems that are inexpensive and can be deployed for either permanent or temporary smoke observations.
PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT WORK (Describe your concept of the end product, i.e., a new equipment design, a video production, a guide, etc.)
Using the system deployed on the Sequoia NF as a model, examine possibilities to improve or provide guidance to other units interested in a similar network. This system utilizes microwave to transfer the images to a web site and server. The Sequoia has one person that has developed this system and other units are lined up asking for his assistance to get a similar product established. We would like to see MTDC review the Sequoia system, make recommendations for improvement and develop guidance via an appropriate training aid.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS (Describe how this project will improve safety, reduce cost, save time, increase efficiency, provide improved resource management, or increase customer satisfaction.) The Sequoia system is serving to compliment smoke monitoring instrumentation and gives regulators a chance to visually check on smoke impacts. This ability to visually confirm smoke transport in combination with ambient monitoring has produced more days of burning on the unit. The web cams are also used as virtual lookouts. See http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/swfrs/ for Sequoia web cams.